Latch



June 26, 1934. R, P. KuszMAUL.

LATCH 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed'NoV. ll, 1953 B 3542 .33 Bz.

[men/tm,

Raerz P; Kwszmaa,

Attorneys.

June 26, 1934. R. F'. KuszMAUL 1,964,066

-LATCH Filed Nov. ll, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5. wz j .ES L 4 n@ w e #u f P ,A mt r 8 .w 4. A. .au fl u MV. 9 w) 8 A. L 3.. ZM 1.4 4 ZZ u 7 z um Z` W b 3 3 a a di L r 4,., 7E@ 743 13 3 A O l i m Patented .im ze, 193i lgiw nutren stares PATENT oi-Fice- LATCH Robert lP. Kuszmaul, Indianapolis, Ind.

Application November 11, 1933, Serial No. 697,569

16 Claims. (Cl. 70-29) This invention relates to the art of latches such in the chamber' between the walls of the door, as may be employed for doors and the like. It is here shown as being against the inner side of the a primary object of the invention to provide a inner wall to have a keeper engaging member 14 structure which may be formed from a minimum extending through the edge of the door, the hole number of parts andin such a manner as to be through the edge being formed to serve as a guide 60 extremely durable and positive over a long period for the bolt. Thisbolt 13 is carried horizontally of time. It is a further primary object of my ininwardly within the chamber to have its inner end vention to provide means for rendering the latch supported by a rivet 15 which extends through a inoperative from one side of the door, that is, inslot 16 in the bolt. The rivet is so located in 10 operative in the sense that the bolt of the latch reference to the slot 16 that it serves to limit the 65 will remain extended so that the door may not travel of the bolt. A spring 17 is secured within be opened from the opposite side. A still further the chamber to have an end compressively bearimportant object of the invention is to provide ing against the inner end of the bolt 13 so that the a structure as above indicated to which may be bolt is normally moved by the spring to have the l5 added a locking device without having to intermember 14 extended to its outermost position. 70

fere with other parts of the latch mechanism. In order to retract the bolt 13 by means of the The particular illustration herein employed to handle l1, I provide a suitable linkage therebeillustrate one form of the invention is that partween which is here shown as comprising a link ticularly adapted to be used in conjunction with 18 rockably connected to the arm 19 which ex- 20 an automobile door although the invention is tends within the chamber of the door from the 75 not to be construed to be limited to such an appivot pin 20 about which the handle 11 is rocked, plication. The above indicated objects as well as and pivotally interconnect the other end of the additional advantages of the invention will belink 18 to an arm 21 which is xed to a vertically come apparent to those versed in the art by the disposed post 22. The arm 21 is normally urged 25 following description which is made in reference by a spring 23 to swing with the postl 22 in that 80 to the accompanyingdrawings, in which direction which will carry the handle 11 back into Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side'elevation from the the recess 12. I provide an interconnecting outer side of a door to which my invention is apmechanism between the arm 21 and the bolt 13 plied; y such that when the handle 11 is pulled outwardly 39 Fig. 2, a horizontal transverse sectionon the from the recess 12, the arm 21 will be swung 85 line 2-2 in Fig. 1; around toward the bolt 13 to overcome the spring Fig. 3, a vertical section on the line .3-3 in 23 and to retract the bolt 13 against the push of Fig. 2, and the spring 17 so as to pull the member 14 of the Fig. 4, a vertical transverse section on the line bolt back into the chamber within the door. 1 -4 in Fig. 3. One particular form of this interconnecting 90 Like characters of reference indicate like parts mechanism is here shown as comprising a rack throughout the several views in the drawings. 24 formed on the inner side of the bolt 13 with a Referring now to the drawings, a' fragmentary gear segment 25 engagng therewith and rockably portion of a doorA 10 is indicated wherein the wall carried by the post 22 to have a leg 26 downturned 40 is formed of sheet metal to denea chamber from the arm 21 engaging over the back side of 95 therewithin to receive the latch mechanism. I the gear segment 25 on that side of the post 22 have here shown a ush type handle 11 as being toward the outer end of the bolt 13 when the arm provided on the outer side of the door to be nor- 21 may be swung therearound. In order to supmally carried substantially within a door recess port the gear segment 25 vertically along the 12. I believe this to be the better practice par- .post 22, I provide a rib 27 centrally disposed lon- 100 ticularly on automobile doors so that the handle gitudinally alongthe rack 24, Figs. 3 and 4, and does not project beyond the face of the door. slot the gear segment 25 so as to permit this rib This construction not only gives a neater appear- 27 to extend through the slot and thereby allow ance to the side of the automobile but also would the upper face of theslot to rest on the upper di) in' many cases prevent sericusinjury to pedesside of the rib. 105

trians who may be struck by the automobile. As A plate 2,8 extends horizontally from the under is indicated by the drawings, Figs. 1, Zand 4, this side of thebolt 13 under the gear segment 25 to handle 11 is rockably mounted to swing .horizonprovide a bearing through which the lower end tally rather than to turn vertically. of the post 22 extends, this lower end being here 5 A bolt 13 is formed to be slidably carried withshown as of a diameter reduced irom that part of 1.10

the post which extends through the gear segment and to which the arm 21 is secured. An upper plate 29 is also provided to extend horizontally over but spaced above the bolt and gear segment to provide an upper bearing through which the post 22 may slidably be moved. 'Ihese two plates 28 and 29 are preferably rigidly spaced apart by a post 30 about which one end of the spring 23 is engaged and from which the spring is carried to wrap around the post 22 by a number of tu'rns normally spaced apart to have the other end of the spring extend from the post and be hooked into the arm 21, Fig. 2. It is to be noted that not only does the spring 23 act torsionally to retract the arm 21 but it also serves as l a compression spring tending to urge the arm 21 downwardly against the upper side of the gear segment 25. f v

An inner handle 31 is here shown as being mounted to be rocked vertically and to have a stud 32 extending inwardly through the inner wall of the door 10 to have an upwardly disposed rocker arm 33 secured thereto. The upper portion of this arm 33 is provided with a slot 34 through which extends a rivet 35 carried by a slide 36 constrained to horizontal travel by means of the pair of rivets 37 and 38 which extend through a longitudinally disposed slot 39 in the slide, Fig. 3. The bolt 13 is provided with a downwardly extending lug 40 and the slide 36 is provided with a pair of spaced apart upwardly extending lugs 41 and 42 between which the lug 40 is disposed. By rocking the handleBl upwardly, Fig. 3, the rocker arm 33 is shifted to pull the slide 36 to carry the lug 41 against the bolt lug 40 so that the bolt 13 may thereby be retracted to pull the member 14 back within the chamber in the door. Releasing thehandle 31 permits the spring 17 to return the bolt 13 to its normal position as indicated in Fig. 3. It is to be remembered that this handle 31 is the one on the inside of the door and I provide a mechanism whereby downward movement of the handle 31 will so affect the latch mechanism as to prevent retraction of the bolt by movement of the outside handle 11.

As was above indicated, the post 22 extends downwardly for a distance below the under plate 28. The slide 36 is provided with a tongue 43 which has an inclined surface directed toward the post 22 so that when the handle 31 is pushed downwardly the slide 36 is carried toward the post 22 and this tongue 43 is brought against the lower end of the post 22 by the inclined surface indicated so that continued movement of the handle 31 downwardly will cause the tongue 43 to be pushed under the post to lift it and retain it on the upper elevated surface 4'4 of the tongue. In this upward movement of the post 22, the arm 21, being fixed to the post 22, is also carried upwardly to further compress the spring 23 and' also to lift the 1eg'26 up to assume the dotted line position as indicated in Fig. 3 whereby rocking of the handle 11 may. still be permitted but such rocking will be ineiective to rock the gear segment 25 since the leg 26 has been lifted out of its path. The pin 49 which forms the pivot conl nection between the link 18 and the arm 21 is fixed to the link 18 and is of sufiicient length to remain rockably connected with the arm 21 even when the arm is in the elevated position.

When the outer handle 11 is thus in effect disconnected from the bolt 13, should the door 10 then happen to be open and slammed shut, the lug 40 then being -against the lug 42 of the slide 36'wil1 push the slide `36 rearwardly t0 permit the post 22 to drop and return the leg 26 to its position whereby the handle 11 may again be employed to retract the bolt 13. This operation is employed to prevent the door from being locked against admission from the outside when it is accidentally slammed shut but of course permits the door to remain in a locked position when it is shut and the handle 31 is lowered in the closed door position.

Now to provide some external locking means, I provide some form of a lock 45 here shown as being of the usual cylinder type operated by a key in the usual manner. This lock 45 has a barrel 46 extending inwardly to carry a cam 47 which may be revolved in a vertical plane by the barrel 46 in the path of a foot 48 turned thereover from the lower end of the post 22. The foot 48 is provided merely to give clearance between the tongue 43 and the cam 47, otherwise the barrel 46 could be made of sufhcient length Ato bring the cam 47 directly under the -lower end of the post. Supposing the handle 31 is to be lowered from the inside of the door so as to have forced the tongue 43 under the post 22 and to have disengaged the handle 11 from the bolt 13, slamming of the door t0 the closed position will of course immediately disengage the tongue and return it rfrom the post. To lock the door then, the barrel 46 is turned in the usual manner by a key so as to revolve the cam 47 and lift the post 22 and thereby again disconnect the outside handle 11 from the bolt 13.

When the lock 45 is employed and the cam 47 has revolved to lift the post 22, it is still possible to rock the handle 11 but any rocking will be ineffective insofar as movement of the bolt 13 is concerned since the leg 26 can not drop down back of the gear segment 25, but will slide around on the upper surface thereof. The normal clearance between the gear segment and the leg 26 when that leg is in the lower position is such thatthere is not suicient gap for the leg 26 to drop back of the gear segment 25 should the handle 11 be rocked sufficiently to carry the foot 48 off of the cam 47. Of course when the cam 47 is directly under the post 22 as above indicated, there is no possibility of thepost 22 dropping at all until the cam is lowered.

While I have herein shown and described my invention in the form as now best known to me, it is obvious that structural changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and I, therefore, do not desire to be limited to that precise structure beyond the limitations as may be imposed by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A latch comprising in combination a rack bolt, a handle, a bolt actuating gear segment, interconnecting means between the handle and the bolt including a rockable arm releasably engaging the actuating segment, a slide member and a spring acting compressibly to move the arm into engagement with the gear segment and having a member through which it acts torsionally to rock the arm mounted to disengage said arm from said actuating segment upon movement thereof, and a member operable to shift said slide member.

2. A latch comprising in combination, a rack bolt, yielding means normally retaining the bolt in anextended position, a toothed bolt shifting segment mounted adjacent the bolt, an arma bolt shifting member revolubly mounted to` shiftalle toward and away from the shifting segment, springmeans normally carrying the arm` toward the side of the Shifting segment, -said spring also acting torsionally to swing the arm,

an operating handleY interconnected with saidv arm, and an arm shifting member for shifting the arm away from said shifting segment whereby said bolt'remains stationary upon movement.

of the handle.

3. A latch comprising in combination, a bolt,

engage the bolt, an arm, spring means urging the arm toward the side of the shifting member, said spring also acting torsionally to swing the arm, means comprising a lug depending from the arm normally permitting thelug to engage with the shifting member, and means for shifting the arm to overcome said spring means and disengage it from said bolt shifting member.

4. A latch comprising in combination, a bolt, a bolt shifting member revolubly mounted to lreciprocate the bolt4 upon rotation thereof, spring means urging the bolt toward its extended position, an arm revolubly mounted adjacent said shifting member having means to carry the member around in a direction to move the bolt against the pressure of said spring means. said arm being spring urged toward the side of saidA shifting member, a pin upon which said shiftntT member and arm are both revolubly mounted, and a shiftable-member formed to move said arm from the path of said shifting meansk by Contact with an end of the pin to prevent rotation thereof by said arm.

5. 'A latch comprising in combination, a bolt,

to prevent rotation thereof by said arm, Asaid arm being mounted on a post having an axis l' common with the axis of rotation of the. shifting member, said' shiftable member being located to engage and lift said post to effect said movement of the. arm. l

A latch comprising in combination, a bolt, ar bolt shifting member revolubly mounted to reciprocate the bolt upon rotation thereof, spring means urging the bolt toward its extended position, an arm revolubly mounted adjacent said shifting member having means to carry the member around in a direction to move the bolt against the pressure of said spring means, said arm being spring urged toward Athe side of said. shifting member, and a shiftable member formed to move said arm' from the path of'said shifting means to prevent rotation thereof by said arm, said arm being mounted on a post having an axis common with the axisof rotation of the shifting member, said shiftable member being located to engage and lift said`post to effect said movement of thev arm, said interposed means com.- prising a leg extending from the arm into the path of said shifting means.

'7. A latch comprising in combination, a bolt, a bolt shifting member revolubly mounted to reciprocate the boltupon rotation thereof, spring means urging the bolt towai us its extended position, an arm revolubly mounted adjacent said shifting member having means to ca'rry the member around in a direction to move the bolt aga:nst the pressure of said spring means, saidarm being spring urged toward the side of said shifting member, and a shiftable member formed' to move said arm from the path of said shifting means to prevent rotation thereof by said arm, said arm being mounted on a post having an axis common with the axs of rotation pf the shifting member, said shiftable member be'ng located to engage and lift said post'to effect said movement of the arm, said spring means comprising a combined torsion and compression spring to return the arm and to carry the arm toward said shifting member.

8. A latch comprising in combination, a bolt, a bolt shifting' member revolubly mounted to reciprocate the bolt upon rotation thereof, spring means urging the bolt toward its extended position, an arm revoluably mounted adjacent said shifting member having means to carry the member around in a direction to move the bolt against the pressure of sa'd spring means, sa'd interposed means being spring urged toward the side of said shifting member, and a shiftable member formed to move said interposed means from the path of said shifting means to prevent rotation. thereof by said arm, said arm being mounted on a post having an ax`s common with the axis of rotation of the shifting member, said shiftable member being located to engage and lift Said post to effect said movement of the interposed means, said shiftable member comprising a slide having an inclined surface to engage the post and effect said lifting thereof.

9. A latch comprising in combination, a bolt,

a bolt shi'ting member revolubly mounted to l reciprocate the bolt upon rotation thereof, spring means urging the bolt toward its extended position, an arm revolubly mounted adjacent said shifting member having means to carry the member around in a direction to move the b olt against the pressure of said spring means, said interposed means being springfurged toward thek side of said shifting member, and a ,shiftable member formed to move said interposedmeans from the path of said shifting means to prevent rotation thereof by said arm, said arm being mounted on a post having an axis common with the axis of rotation of the shifting member, said shiftable member being located to engage and lift said post to effect said movement of the interposed means, said shiftable member comprising a slide having an inclined surface to engage the post and effect said lifting thereof, a lug extending from the bolt, and a pair of spaced apart ears on the slide between which the bolt lug extends whereby movement of vthe slide toward said post is ineffective to move said bolt but upon sufcient reverse travel, the slide willretract the bolt. andretraction of the bolt when the slide is engaged with said post will carry the slide away from the post.'

l0.'A latch comprising in combination, a bolt,

a bolt shifting member revolubly mounted to re-` ciprocate the bolt upon rotation thereof, spring the pressure of said spring means, said inter.

posed means being spring urged toward the'side of said shifting member, `and a shiftable member formed to move said interposed means from the -path of said shifting means to prevent rotation thereof by said arm, said arm being mounted on a post having an axis common with the axis of rotation of the shifting member, said shiftable member being located to engage and lift said post to effect said movement of the interposed means, and lockV means preventing the lowering of the post.

11. A latch for a door comprising in combination, a bolt, a handle rockably mounted to swing toward and away from the door,'a bolt actuating member, interconnecting means between the handle and the bolt including a rockable arm releasably engaging the actuating member, and means for disengaging the arm from said actuating means.

12. A latch comprising in combination, a bolt, a handle, a bolt actuating member, interconnecting means between the handle and the bolt including a rockable arm releasably engaging the actuating member, a pin .on which the arm is pvoted and by which the arm is movable out of engagement with the bolt actuating member by a longitudinal movement of the pin and means for moving the pin longitudinally for disengaging the arm fromA the member.

13. A latch comprising in combination, a rack bolt, a handle, a. toothed bolt actuating segment, interconnecting means between the handle and the bolt including a rockable arm releasably engaging the actuating segment, a pin on which the segment and arm are pivoted means for disengaging the arm from the segment by a-longitudinal movement of the pin, said means comprisng a. shiftable lock controlled member, and an arm on tne pin in the path of the controlled member.

14. A latch for a door comprising in combination, a bolt having a rack, a handle rockably mounted to swing toward and away from the door, and bolt actuating and interconnecting means between the handle and the bolt comprising a toothed segment engaging the rack, an arm adjustable in and out of engagement with the segment, to rock the segment, a second handle on the other side of the door from the rst handle, means connected with the second handle to retract the bolt and means actuated by the second handle for disengaging the arm from the segment.

15. A latch for a door comprising in combination, a bolt having a rack and a longitudinal rib centrally of the rack, a handle rockably mounted to swing in a horizontal plane toward and away from the door, and bolt actuating and interconnecting means between the handle and the bolt comprising a toothed segment, engaging the rack on both sides of the rib and having a channel receiving the rib, an arm movable in and out of engagement with the segment, to

`rock the segment, a second handle on the other side of the door from the rst handle, means connected with the second handle to retract the bolt and means actuated by the second handle to raise the arm out of engagement with the segment.

16. The combination with a door having a surface recess, of a bolt having a rack and a longitudinal rib centrally of the rack, a handle located Within the recess of the door, and rockably mounted to swing therein toward and away from the door, and bolt actuating and interconnecting means between the handle and the bolt comprising a pair of parallel fixed plates, apin supported by the plates, a toothed segment on one of the plates rocking on the pin and engaging the rack on both sides of the rib and having a channel receiving the rib, an arm xed on the pin and having a lug normally engaging the segment, a second handle on the other side of the door from the rst handle, means connected with the second handle to retract the bolt and means actuated by the second handle to move the pin longitudinally and disengage the lug on the arm from the segment.

ROBERT P. KUSZMAUL. 

